A unique plant that converts vegetable waste into gas is a seemingly successful initiative taken by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) at Macha Bolarum in Alwal circle. Bolarum is one of the major suburbs of Hyderabad, and Macha Bolarum market is an old vegetable market. A few months ago, having noticed the piles of waste generated in the area and the resulting odours of any delay in moving it to the dumpyard, North Zone Commissioner S. Harikrishna and his team decided to set up a waste treatment plant here.

The Khadi & Village Industries Commission was given the task of constructing a gas plant involving an expenditure of Rs. 4.3 lakh with vegetable waste as the primary source. A crushing plant fabricated from Coimbatore was brought here, and it has been up and is functioning well. The gas thus generated is currently being provided free of cost to an orphanage right opposite the plant. With the orphanage housing around 70 children, the maintenance cost comes to about Rs. 3,000 a month, including electricity and labour charges for working about two hours a day. The gas generated is equal to 10 cylinders a month, which means the orphanage is spending that much less on LPG cylinders. This also saves on 500 kg less of garbage to be transported saving the GHMC around Rs. 3.5 lakh a year!